Online Census of Italian Contemporary Architecture Launches with 4,948 Entries

The Italian Ministry of Culture's Directorate General for Contemporary Creativity has launched an online census of Italian architecture from 1945 to the present. The platform, censimentoarchitetturecontemporanee.cultura.gov.it, currently hosts 4,948 records covering residential buildings, public and religious structures, production facilities, infrastructure, exhibition pavilions, museums, monuments, parks, gardens, spas, universities, fairs, skyscrapers, and more. The project originated in 2002 under the former DARC Directorate General for Art and Contemporary Architecture, with a formal call for research collaborators issued in autumn 2020. Selection criteria include bibliographic and historical-critical importance, innovation in materials and construction technologies, quality within the urban context, and the prominence of the architect. Buildings must be cited in at least three systematic studies or featured in two national/international architecture journals. Lombardy leads with 730 entries, followed by Lazio (517), Emilia Romagna, Tuscany, and Campania. The census aims to support reflection on recent architectural heritage, promote preservation, and inform urban regeneration. A conference titled "Ereditare il presente" was held in October 2022, with proceedings to be published on the Directorate's YouTube channel. The platform allows searches by region, author, type, and year, and includes an Atlas of Contemporary Architecture organized by thematic itineraries.